Citizen Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard Prepare for Overseas Deployment

By Major William Carraway

Historian, Georgia National Guard

Left: Major General Tom Carden, Georgia’s Adjutant General, addresses Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard’s 178th Military Police Company
during a departure ceremony in the unit’s home town of Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.  The unit is preparing for its fourth overseas deployment
since September 11, 2001. Right: Guidon of the 178th MP Company

The Georgia National Guard’s 178^th Military Police Company held a departure ceremony in their hometown of Monroe, Georgia October 20, 2023 to herald their upcoming overseas deployment. The unit previously deployed in support of overseas operations in Iraq in 2003 and 2009.

 

The 178^th MP Company is the latest in a long unbroken chain of Georgia National Guard units who have supported overseas operations since September 11, 2001. More than 23,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen have deployed in support of operations in all geographic combat commands. 

 

The 178th MP Company October 20, 2023.

The 178th MP Company has a long history and tradition of overseas service. The earliest Georgia National Guard unit from Monroe was the Walton Guards, which was established in 1874. The unit mobilized to the Mexican Border in 1917 and deployed to France in 1918. In World War II, the unit, then part of the 950^th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion deployed to the Pacific Theater where it provided air defense during the Guadalcanal and New Guinea Campaigns.

 

Soldiers from the 178th MP Company augmented the 190^th MP Company in September 1990 and deployed as part of Operation Desert Shield. The MPs were among the first Georgia Guardsmen deployed overseas where they were stationed in Saudi Arabia.

 

On February 11, 2002, the 178th MP Company was ordered to active federal service in support of Operation Noble Eagle. The unit provided MP support to Guantanamo Bay Naval Base and augmented security at installations in Georgia. The 178th was released from active-duty December 17, 2002 but was again ordered to active federal service 2003 for 12-month deployment to Iraq. The unit returned to Iraq in 2008 and supported combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

 

Major General Tom Carden, Adjutant General of the Georgia National Guard, conducts the reenlistment ceremony for Sgt. Kyle Potts of the 178th Military Police
Company during a departure ceremony in the unit’s home town of Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.

In addition to its robust overseas experience, the 178^th MP Company has played a vital role in numerous state missions responding to hurricanes, winter storms and floods. In March 2020, MPs from Monroe were among the first Georgia Guardsmen called to active duty in support of Georgia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. From May 2020 through 2021, the 178th MP Company supported law enforcement officials and augmented security at key locations in response to civil demonstrations, the contested 2020 election and subsequent presidential inauguration.

Near the conclusion of the departure ceremony, Capt. John Lockstedt, commander, of the 178^th MP Company, spoke to Soldier’s family members who had gathered to see their loved one’s goodbye.

“You don’t need me to tell you how loved and appreciated you are. “The truth is, we could not do this without you.

Lieutenant Colonel Paul Tremblay, commander of the 170th Military Police Battalion; and Capt. John Lockstedt, commander, of the 178th MP Company,
at the conclusion of the company’s departure ceremony in Monroe, Ga. October 20, 2023.

The 170th Cyber Protection Team

By Maj. William Carraway

Historian, Georgia National Guard.

 

The 170th Cyber Protection Team at Fort Gillem, Ga. August 5, 2018. Photo by Maj. William Carraway. Inset: Shoulder-sleeve
insignia of the 91st Cyber Brigade.

In 2015, the Georgia National Guard was selected to host one of the first three cyber protection teams established in the National Guard. Selected from among nomination packets from 45 states, the Georgia National Guard activated the 170th in the fall of 2015. The California National Guard also fielded a CPT In 2015 while Michigan, Indiana and Ohio contributed personnel to form the third CPT. On October 2, 2016, the 170th CPT was federally recognized. By the end of 2017, ten CPTs had been established to combat emerging cyber threats.

 

Major Michael G. Mallon, commander of the 170th CPT briefs Brig. Gen. John T. Gentry during a capability briefing at Forest Park Ga., January 11, 2020.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class R.J. Lannom Jr.

The mission of the 170^th Cyber Protection Team is to conduct defensive cyberspace operations on military networks to support mission requirements ad identified by Department of Defense or state leadership. Cyber protection teams are staffed by Army National Guard Soldiers who train and operate on a traditional part-time basis; however, the CPT can be mobilized for federal service in the event that additional assets are required by Army Cyber Command. The governor of Georgia can also call upon CPT expertise to provide cyber protection on government networks.  

 

Sergeant Morgan Chafin, an intelligence analyst assigned
to the 170th CPT monitors cyber activity during exercise
Cyber Dawg 21 Sept. 14, 2021, at the Georgia Cyber Center
in Augusta, Georgia. Photo by Capt. Bryant Wine.

In December 2016, the unit received its first mobilization. The following year, the 170th was mobilized in support of the three primary missions of the DOD’s cyber strategy:  defending DoD networks, systems, and information; defending the U.S. homeland and U.S. national interests against cyberattacks of significant consequence; and providing cyber support to military operational and contingency plans. Thirty Soldiers of the 170th CPT were mobilized in support of Cyber Command operations from April 2017 to May 2018.

 

The 170th CPT underwent its first change of command August 5, 2018 as Maj. George Allen relinquished command to Capt. Michael Mallon. In 2023 command passed from Maj. Mallon to Maj. Adam Tolar.

In 2021 the 170th completed exercise Cyber Dawg 21. Also participating in the exercise were cyber experts of the Georgia Air National Guard’s 283rd Communications Squadron, 202nd Engineering Installation Squadron and 224th Joint Communications Support Squadron.

 

In June 2023 the 170th participated in Cyber Shield 2023. The exercise was held at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas June 2-16, 2023 and drew more than 800 participants representing military, government and civilian leaders from 25 states.

Soldiers of the 170th CPT were among nearly 800 participants at the Cyber Shield Training Exercise June 2-16, 2023 at the Professional Education
Center, Little Rock Ark. Photo by Staff Sgt. Jeffery Reno.